Woman’s Condom makes 50 top ideas list

The Woman’s Condom, developed by PATH and our partner CONRAD, has been selected as one of the 50 most inspiring ideas and solutions for women.

The Women Deliver 50 competition is sponsored by Women Deliver, a global advocacy organization with a mission to the improve health and well being for girls and women around the world. Each year in conjunction with International Women’s Day, March 8, Women Deliver celebrates the progress made on behalf of girls and women.

The Woman’s Condom

Millions of women worldwide have an urgent need for dual protection from unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. The Woman’s Condom is designed to expand options for dual protection initiated by women. Women and their partners helped design the Woman’s Condom. Clinical studies in several countries confirmed that the condom is safe, acceptable, and easy to use, and that it performs well.

The Dahua Medical Apparatus Company in Shanghai is licensed to produce the condom. With support from several donors, the company is working toward making the Woman’s Condom available to women in China. PATH and our partners are also working to bring the product to sub-Saharan Africa.

The Women Deliver 50

The “Women Deliver 50” list showcases advocacy campaigns, health interventions, technologies, educational initiatives, and leadership programs. The initiatives, which range from grassroots to global, are led by social entrepreneurs, civil society, governments, international agencies and private companies.

Of the 50 ideas and solutions featured on the organization’s list, 25 are centered in sub-Saharan Africa, nine in Asia, five in the Middle East and North Africa, four in Latin America, and two in Europe and North America, while the others are global in reach. A selection committee of experts and advocates representing the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Medic Mobile, Room to Read, Man Up, and the International Center for Research on Women narrowed the original list of nominations. Winners were selected by more than 6,000 individuals who participated in the online voting.

“The solutions on this list show that with ingenuity, drive, and dedication, we can build a better world for girls and women,” said Jill Sheffield, Women Deliver Founder and President. “We are proud to celebrate these organizations and programs, which are pioneering real, lasting social change at the local and global levels. We have seen time and time again that when we invest in girls and women, entire societies benefit.”